Belgium
By: Ethan Curb
Introduction of Belgium
Today we will learn about Belgium. We will know the geography, economics, ethnic and social groups, government, traditional holidays, foods, clothes, languages, and religions of Belgium.
Climate and Location of Belgium
Belgium is a small country in Eastern Europe. Belgium has a year-round temperature of -2 Celsius in the winter to 21 Celsius in the summer. Belgium has a climate of temperate maritime mostly influenced by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Belgium gets most of its rain out of the month of January with approximately 90mm.
Geographical Features of Belgium
Belgium has three major regions, the Coastal Plains in the north-west, the Central Plateau in the south-west, and the Addrenes Uplands also in the south-west. Signal de Bontrager is the highest point in Belgium at 694 m tall. Three major rivers in Belgium include Scheldt in the south-west (200 km in Belgium), the Meuse in the north-east (183 km in Belgium), and the Yser in the far west (50 km in Belgium) which all dump out into the North Sea.
Major Cities and Travel of Belgium
In Belgium, the major and most populated cities include Brussels, the capital with a population of 1,019,022 people, Antwerp, Flanders, with a population of 459,805 people and, Ghent, Flanders, with a population of 231,493 people. Brussels, being the most populated place in Belgium, attracts tourists with its chocolates, beers, 90 museums, beautiful parks, restaurants, and more. Belgium transportation includes plains, buses, taxis, and trains.
Government and Foreign Policy of Belgium
Belgium is a Federal Parliamentary Democracy under a Constitutional Monarchy which consists of ministers and secretaries of state. King Philippe and prime minister Charles Michel are both official leaders of Belgium. Belgium promotes the importance of human rights and responsibilities. Belgium insures that human rights are protected including that abolition of the death penalty, the protection of the rights of women, children and defenders of human rights, and the fight against all forms of discrimination. Human rights in the United States also fall along the lines of the human rights in Belgium in the way that they both promote the protection and rights of women and children. Belgium is a member of the United Nations and is the capital and founder of the European Union. Netherlands, being right next to Belgium, has developed a very beneficial relationship with Belgium. Both countries aid each other in political, military, and economic goods. In addition, Netherlands in Belgium's biggest exporter and is key for the marketing, goods, and services of Belgium.
Economy of Belgium
Belgium's currency is built up by euros. (1 euro is equal to $1.12 cents) Belgium's trade conducts of imports including fuels, chemicals, and manufactured goods and exports including chemicals, fuels, and pharmaceuticals. Belgium has a GDP per capita of approximately 46,878. When compared to the U. S.'s GDP at approximately 53,042 Belgium doesn't seem to wealthy because of the 6,164 difference but in general, Belgium is one of the most wealthy countries in the world especially thanks to the inports and outports to and from the Netherlands.
Social and Ethnic Groups of Belgium
Belgium's ethnic and social groups consist of 58% Flemish, 31% Walloon, and 11% mixed or other. In Belgium, international and working families have a chance to send their children to school around the age of 3-18. (School payment is paid through fees) In Belgium, there is a government institute called the Equality of Men and Women which promotes sexually eqaulity and is empowered to bring lawsuits between men and women. Belgium is one of the only countries in the world that recognizes child abuse and is fighting against it but, life as a handicapped or poverted child in Belgium is very difficult. Belgium has serious problems because of the different ethnic groups and the different languages that they speak. Political fights broke out around the fall of the old government in 2007 and Belgium turned into an anarchy because of the squabbling between the French speaking Wallonia and the Dutch speaking Flanders. Literacy rate in Belgium is 99% for males and females. I can conclude that in Belgium, women and men have the same opportunities for education.
Religion, Language, and Flag of Belgium
Religions in Belgium consists of 75% catholic and protestant and other 25%. Languages in Belgium consist of 60% Dutch, 40% French, and less than 1% German. The Belgium flag was officially adopted on January 23, 1831. The black in the Belgium flag represents the shield, the gold representing the lion, and the red represents the lion's tongue and claws.
Traditional Holidays, Festivals, Foods, and Clothes of Belgium
Holidays in Belgium are very similar to ones in the United States. Some of the holidays in Belgium are New Year's, celebrating the new year on January 1st off of the Gregorian Calendar, Easter Day, which celebrates Jesus Christ's' resurrection from the dead on March 27, Christmas Day, which celebrates Jesus Christ's birth on December 25th, and Ascension Day, which celebrates 39 days after Easter when Jesus Christ ascends into heaven. Common work clothing in Belgium men usually consist of a suit jacket while women wear nice slacks. In Belgium, traditional foods include waffles, chocolate, french fries, beer, waterzooi, luikse siroop, mussels, and speculoos.
Conclusion
Based on the charts below one can conclude that, most of the population of Belgium follow the rules of the Bible.
On the graph below, 87.3% of Belgium's population is catholic.
Because the Catholic religion's holy book is the Bible and because Catholic people use, read, and follow the rules and prophecies of the Bible, one can conclude that, most of the population of Belgium follow the rules of the Bible.
Links
blogs.collinsflags.com www.allposters.ie intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com www.moonlight-mile.com www.geraldbranum.org alexscountryportfolio.weebly.com www.multpl.com www.ephotopix.com www.worldembassyinformation.com www.infoplease.com